A DEEPER LOOK INTO PHYTODEPURATION

Last Friday I started this series with Water Purifying Systems I merely scratched the green surface of what these plants and Phytodepuration can do! This summer Algae Bloom has been a Buzz Word on the news and all of our Facebook newsfeed. How can we fight the Algae blooms and the Dead Zones in our bodies of water?

DEAD ZONES

The Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Lake Superior, Rivers, and ponds that surround us are all getting invading with Red tides, blue-green algae, and cyanobacteria. They all are harmful toxic Algae Blooms! Why is all of sudden Algae Blooms everywhere? The answer is Climate change and the increase of Nutrient pollution.

NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS

Nitrogen and Phosphorus are apart of the natural ecosystem of our bodies of water they provide habitat and a food supply for fish, shellfish and smaller organisms. However, with all the extra sources of these nutrients from the chemicals applied in the agriculture industry, polluted rainwater runoff, fossil fuels, ineffective wastewater and sewage treatment, and even everyday household products such as soaps and detergents.

When there’s all of this extra Nitrogen and Phosphorus, it creates a breeding frenzy for the toxic Algae Bloom. Algae blooming faster than the ecosystem can handle will have dire consequences. Some consequences we are currently seeing but as we continue on these trends we will see more dead zones. Additionally, it will have repercussions affecting marine life and economic consequences for clean water and food supplies.

FIGHTING ALGAE BLOOM WITH PHYTODEPURATION

Inside the water purifying blog post, I define Phytodepuration as the intentional use of a plant to remove toxins from soils, sludges, sediments, surface water, and groundwater. This is a natural treatment technique that reproduces natural purification processes in a controlled environment. These system use basins that with inert materials such as sand, aquatic plants macrophytes. These plants are natural Purification Systems, in cooperation with microorganisms.

These magical plants work purely from biology. Biology processes that are sedimentation, precipitation, absorption, assimilation from plants and microbial activity. Filtering the unwanted nutrients and chemicals, and allowing for more growth of the plant.

THREE SYSTEMS OF PHYTODEPURATION

I had the infographic recreated from the original infographic to represent the three systems of Phytodepuration. The first system is a sub-surface flow system (SSF) this method is the frequently used throughout Europe. The most common system used because of its high efficiency requiring less of a surface area while still providing a purified system.

HORIZONTAL SUB-SURFACE

Horizontal sub-surface flow system the wastewater flows through the whole bottom of the basin through a pipe. The filtration and biological degradation process begin by carrying out by using anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms removing the organic matter. The nitrogen is removed by nitrification. Metals and the phosphorus are removed by being absorbed in the inert material surface.

SUB- SUPERFICIAL VERTICAL FLOW SYSTEMS

This system is different by having the wastewater flow from the top by a web of pipes that is throughout the basin. The wastewater flows downward resting at the bottom of the basin. The basin doesn’t continuously fill to the top. The two-part filling and emptying of the basin process allow a higher oxygen level than all of the other systems.

WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER WATER PURIFYING SYSTEM

As water gets warmer, chemical pollution becomes more and more out of control the Algae blooms will grow more prevalent because of their preference for warmer water. As we continue in this downward spiral of global warming freshwater will begin to gain salinity due to droughts and desertification. All these effects that are happening right now will become more deadly. When will there be enough deaths from Algae Blooms and Dangerous Chemical Pollution for us to demand Wide Spread Change! Wide Spread change in Water Purification, Industrialized Farming and, the throwaway culture we are living in! Water Purification using plants and not chemicals is a solution.

Let’s All Stand For Permaculture and Learn how to make a greener earth.